Skyline Tilo 100 1506 Rodent Cage (image heavy)

[celmoy]

Hi everyone! I know we've all been quite curious about this cage since rachinghamster posted it up (see: Check This Out!) and mine has arrived!

I bought this cage from Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1) for £48, however the price has been fluctuating and it is now £68! It did ship really quickly (I ordered it on the night of the 23rd and it arrived sometime during the day on the 25th!)

The first thing I'd like to say is that this cage is HUGE! As a size comparison (even though you can see my washing machine in the background), this is a picture of my parents' German Shepard/greyhound cross lying next to the cage:

It's so big! The Amazon page is a bit confusing for finding the size, so I had a measure myself:

Cage only dimensions

• Length: 98.3cm

• Depth: 52.9cm

• Height: 30.2cm

Base only dimensions

• Length (at the top): 100.6cm

• Length (at the bottom): 90cm

• Depth (at the top): 55.3cm

• Depth (at the bottom): 46.5cm

• Height: 16.6cm

With the base attached, the whole thing is 45.7cm high and the wire spacing is 7mm, which I believe makes it suitable for both Syrians and dwarfs. It comes with plastic handles which clip onto the bars at the top so you can lift the cage easily. The base has plastic ridges which hold the cage in place, on the long sides the bottom bars actually clip in:

plastic ridges with bars clipped in

and on the shorter sides the lumps just kind of stop the cage slipping. There are also 2 plastic clips which attach to the shorter sides. They don't clip down solid like some cages have, but it feels really secure and I can lift it by the handles without it falling apart.

plastic clips

The bars are coated and feel like really good quality, it's difficult to even push a finger between them! The only concern I have are the gaps at the corners, but I plan on pulling them together with cable ties to satisfy my paranoia.

gaps at corners of the cage

There are 3 access doors; two smaller ones on one long side, and a large one in the top of the cage. The fastenings on these doors feel good and secure, although I did have to bend one of the roof ones slightly tighter so it would grip better, and I will probably be using a leash clip or something similar so that I know there's no chance of them opening when they shouldn't!

fastening type one the small doors


fastening type on the large door (there are two on the door)

It comes with the plywood house and the log tunnel pictured, and also a large wire running wheel which I will be getting rid of in favour of a solid plastic one since wire wheels aren't safe! Something to note is that this cage comes fully assembled and does not flat-pack, the base and cage can just be lifted apart, so it might be difficult to store when not in use.

I have yet to fully kit out the cage and insert the hamster, but I'm really pleased with this purchase. It feels really sturdy and robust and has plenty of room for toys and a good sized wheel, as well as enough height to add a few shelves I can't wait to put it into action.

If you'd like to see anything particular about the cage or have a question I haven't covered, please feel free to ask

[racinghamster]

Really thorough revue there celmoy, well done. You know, the height of this cage would even take a full upper level if one was added. It`s quite spacious so playing about with the layout is always a good idea. Are your plans for a Syrian now?

[chinesehammy]

Love this cage! However I feel £68 is too pricy for what it is. As soon as it gets to £50 or lower I will be buying!

[racinghamster]

The price has been a bit unfairly put up, but I remember cages like the Ferplast Mary and the Savic Ruffy being sold for around the £50 mark and nowadays, they are nearer the £100 price tag, which is ridiculous for what they are! This cage is even bigger than they are! x

[icklemunch]

Love it!!! Such a great cage and so many things you can do to it. Think adfing a level would be a great idea.

Thanks.

Your dog is a cutie

[celmoy]

Originally Posted by racinghamster

Really thorough revue there celmoy, well done. You know, the height of this cage would even take a full upper level if one was added. It`s quite spacious so playing about with the layout is always a good idea. Are your plans for a Syrian now?

Thank you! I tried to cover all the things I'd had questions about! I'm really considering adding an upper level, I think it would work quite well and of course make more room for exploring. I'd just need to make sure I could easily get in and out of the cage since it doesn't have a big door in the front.

And yes, I'm planning on a Syrian! Since it'll be my first hamster, I feel a bit more confident with having only one and it being a bit bigger! As soon as I've sorted out substrate and got all the toys etc I'll be heading to the pet shop to choose one

Originally Posted by chinesehammy

Love this cage! However I feel £68 is too pricy for what it is. As soon as it gets to £50 or lower I will be buying!

I think you're right there, I doubt I would have bought it at £68, it's just too expensive! It's definitely worth keeping an eye on the price though, and I'd keep checking Zooplus in case they start stocking it!

[Hamsters4eva x]

Your hamster is going to be very lucky! Wish I bought this cage when it was £49, it's a shame it's gone up in price.

[celmoy]

Originally Posted by icklemunch

Love it!!! Such a great cage and so many things you can do to it. Think adfing a level would be a great idea.

Thanks.

Your dog is a cutie

Thank you! That is her "someone has biscuits" face

Originally Posted by Hamsters4eva x

Your hamster is going to be very lucky! Wish I bought this cage when it was £49, it's a shame it's gone up in price.

I'm really disappointed in the price being put up! I think a lot of people would have bought it at the lower price and now I doubt they will make many sales at all :/

[DrKMcK]

That is a beautiful cage! The size is wonderful. This is what they should be selling people when they buy a hamster. Your Syrian is going to be so happy in that cage. Your review and photos are excellent. If I could order this here in the USA I'd be getting 2 for sure! Why can't I get these cage here?!!

[racinghamster]

celmoy, maybe you could put in an upper shelf (secured with lost of cable ties along the sides and holes drilled in the shelf for the ties to go through) but maybe only have the shelf go as far as the wooden house at the end? Then leave a good gap for a solid ramp to go from the upper level, to the wooden housing and then another ramp from the wooden house to the cage floor? That way your hamster will have something solid at that end where normally there might be a longer drop. This would work instead of putting a full upper shelf in, but it would still be big enough to add a large upper floor. x